After working in tech for twenty years and then as an evidence-based fitness program instructor, Sue-May Lin joined the Senior Planet team in late 2023 as a Mandarin speaking tech trainer. 

We caught up with this Californian to discuss the upcoming Lunar New Year and her passion for making artisanal chocolates. 

What are some of your favorite parts about being a trainer? 

One of my favorite parts is seeing seniors apply the knowledge they have learned to improve their daily lives. We are living in such a rapidly changing world and I see seniors come to the classroom eager to learn new skills. It really inspires me. 

How do you like to spend time outside of work? 

My passion is making artisanal chocolates. It’s a beautiful, Zen experience for me – everything from tempering the chocolate to packaging them. It’s a lot of process, but it’s a wonderful journey, ending with getting to share the confections with my family and friends. 

It’s almost the Lunar New Year! How do you celebrate? 

I’ve been in the United States for many years, so the Lunar New Year is a nostalgic time for me. I miss the food my mom would make every year – she’d spend so much time preparing it. 

Now, with the family I have here, we always make dumplings. We put candy in several dumplings and if you get one of those you will have good fortune for the year! It’s lots of fun. People will not stop eating until we finish them all — 200 or 300 dumplings! 

This is the Year of the Dragon, which is very special because the dragon symbolizes great power, strength and wisdom. 

What does Aging with Attitude mean to you? 

I think we should all live the second phase of our life with purpose. It doesn’t matter what you want to do. As long as you have a purpose and a positive attitude.  

Plus, old is gold! I think I’m much smarter than I was thirty or forty years ago. 

YOUR TURN

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Pam Hugi is Senior Planet’s Community and Advocacy Manager. Based in Brooklyn, she is a contributing writer for this site.